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STATE
NAME |
STATEHOOD
DATE/ORDER |
PRE-STATEHOOD
NOTES |
| Delaware |
Dec. 7, 1787
1 st |
The first of the original 13 colonies. |
| Pennsylvania |
Dec. 12, 1787
2 nd |
The second of the original 13 colonies. |
| New Jersey |
Dec. 18, 1787
3 rd |
The third of the original 13 colonies. |
| Georgia |
Jan. 2, 1788
4 th |
The fourth of the original 13 colonies |
| Connecticut |
Jan. 9, 1788
5 th |
The fifth of the original 13 colonies. |
| Massachusetts |
Feb. 6, 1788
6 th |
The sixth of the original 13 colonies |
| Maryland |
April 28, 1788
7 th |
The seventh of the original 13 colonies. |
| South Carolina |
May 23, 1788
8 th |
The eighth of the original 13 colonies. |
| New Hampshire |
June 21, 1788
9 th |
The ninth of the original 13 colonies |
| Virginia |
June 25, 1788
10 th |
The 10th of the original 13 colonies. |
| New York |
July 26, 1788
11 th |
The 11th of the original 13 colonies. |
| North Carolina |
Nov. 21, 1789
12 th |
The 12th of the original 13 colonies. |
| Rhode Island |
May 29, 1790
13 th |
The 13th of the original 13 colonies. |
| Vermont |
March 4, 1791
14 th |
Until statehood, had been a region claimed by both New York and
New Hampshire |
| Kentucky |
June 1, 1792
15 th |
Never a territory, it was part of Virginia until
statehood. |
| Tennessee |
June 1, 1796
16 th |
Was Southwest Territory before statehood. |
| Ohio |
March 1, 1803
17 th |
Was part of the Northwest Territory until statehood. |
| Louisiana |
April 30, 1812
18 th |
With certain boundary changes, had been the Territory of
Orleans. |
| Indiana |
Dec. 11, 1816
19 th |
There was a residue of Indiana Territory that continued to exist
under that name until Dec. 3, 1818, when it was attached to Michigan
Territory. |
| Mississippi |
Dec. 10, 1817
20 th |
Territory by Act of April 7, 1798, effective May 7, 1798. |
| Illinois |
Dec. 3, 1818
21 st |
. |
| Alabama |
Dec. 14, 1819
22 nd |
Territory by Act of March 3, 1817, effective Aug. 15,
1817. |
| Maine |
March 15, 1820
23 rd |
What is now the state of Maine was, before statehood, called the
District of Maine and belonged to Massachusetts. |
| Missouri |
Aug. 10, 1821
24 th |
The state was much smaller than the territory. The area to the
west and northwest of the state, which had been in the territory,
was commonly known as the "Missouri Country" until May 30, 1854, and
certain of the post offices in this area show a Missouri
abbreviation in the postmark. |
| Arkansas |
June 15, 1836
25 th |
The territory was larger than the state. After statehood the
leftover area to the west had post offices that continued for some
years to use an Arkansas abbreviation in the postmarks, although
they were really in the "Indian Country." |
| Michigan |
Jan. 26., 1837
26 th |
. |
| Florida |
March 3, 1845
27 th |
. |
| Texas |
Dec. 29, 1845
28 th |
Was an independent republic before statehood. |
| Iowa |
Dec. 28, 1846
29 th |
. |
| Wisconsin |
May 29, 1848
30 th |
The state is smaller than the territory and the leftover area
continued to be called the Territory of Wisconsin until March 3,
1849. |
| California |
Sept. 9, 1850
31 st |
Ceded by Mexico by the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, concluded
Feb. 2, 1848, and proclaimed July 4, 1848. From then until
statehood, California had a military government until Dec. 20, 1849,
and then a local civil government. It never had a territorial form
of government. |
| Minnesota |
May 11, 1858
32 nd |
. |
| Oregon |
Feb. 14, 1859
33 rd |
. |
| Kansas |
Jan. 29, 1861
34 th |
. |
| West Virginia |
June 20, 1863
35 th |
Was part of Virginia until statehood. |
| Nevada |
Oct. 31, 1864
36 th |
. |
| Nebraska |
March 1, 1867
37 th |
. |
| Colorado |
Aug. 1, 1876
38 th |
. |
| North Dakota |
Nov. 2, 1889
39 th or 40 th |
Was part of Dakota Territory before statehood. Admitted on same
day as South Dakota |
| South Dakota |
Nov. 2, 1889
39 th or 40 th |
Was part of Dakota Territory before statehood. Admitted on same
day as North Dakota |
| Montana |
Nov. 8, 1889
41 st |
. |
| Washington |
Nov. 11, 1889
42 nd |
. |
| Idaho |
July 3, 1890
43 rd |
. |
| Wyoming |
July 10, 1890
44 th |
. |
| Utah |
Jan. 4, 1896
45 th |
. |
| Oklahoma |
Nov. 16, 1907
46 th |
The state was formed from Oklahoma Territory and Indian
Territory. |
| New Mexico |
Jan. 6, 1912
47th |
. |
| Arizona |
Feb. 14, 1912
48 th |
This region was sometimes called Arizona before 1863, although
it was still in the Territory of New Mexico. |
| Alaska |
Jan. 3, 1959
49 th |
A district from Oct. 18, 1867, until it became an organized
territory Aug. 24, 1912. |
| Hawaii |
Aug. 21, 1959
50 th |
The territorial date Aug. 12, 1898 is that of the formal
transfer to the United States, with Sanford B. Dole as first Governor.
|
Source: Scott Stamp Monthly (April 1998)
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